Members from around the world gathered in Chattanooga, Tenn., Oct. 26-30 for the 109th
Navy League National Convention, where wounded
warriors were honored, sea service and Navy League
awards given, and the new national president — Philip
L. Dunmire — sworn into office.

Southern hospitality and regional cuisine greeted
attendees at the Welcome Aboard reception Oct. 26,
given by the convention host, the Greater Chattanooga-John J. Spittler Council. Council President Sandy
McMillan, Convention Host Committee Chairman Dan
Saieed, outgoing National President Daniel B. Branch Jr.
and council namesake John J. Spittler took turns welcoming the crowd and setting the stage for what proved
to be a productive and fun-filled three days.

Helping Branch and Saieed kick off the official business of the Navy League the next morning at the
Opening Ceremony were Larry Henry, chairman of the
Hamilton County Board of Commissioners, and Pam
Ladd, chairwoman of the Chattanooga City Council.

A first at this year’s convention was an evening
Wounded Warrior Reception at the Tennessee
Aquarium on Oct. 27. Joining Navy Leaguers there and
for the next few days as guests were former Marine
Sgts. Saul Antonio Rivera of Greenville, S.C., and Jared
Lyle Martin, a Purple Heart recipient from Phoenix.

Both Rivera and Martin are from the U.S. Marine
Corps Wounded Warrior Regiment, which “provides
and facilitates non-medical care to combat and noncombat wounded, ill and injured Marines and Sailors
attached to or in direct support of Marine units, and

DAN REYNOLDS
From the left, new Navy League National President Philip L.
Dunmire and his wife, Linda, outgoing National President
Daniel B. Branch Jr. and his wife, Kathleen, offer a toast during the closing dinner at the Navy League National
Convention in Chattanooga, Tenn., Oct. 29.

their family members in order to assist them as they
return to duty or transition to civilian life,” according
to the organization’s mission statement.

Several Sea Service Award recipients, who would be
honored at a luncheon the next day [See story, Page
66], and their family members also enjoyed the event,
which featured hors d’oeuvres, dancing and self-guided
tours of the River Journey exhibits.